A/73/25
United Nations
Report of the United Nations Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme
Third session (Nairobi, 4–6 December 2017)
General Assembly Official Records Seventy-third Session Supplement No. 25
A/73/25
General Assembly A/73/25 Official Records Seventy-third Session Supplement No. 25
Report of the United Nations Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme
Third session (Nairobi, 4–6 December 2017)
United Nations • New York, 2018
Note
Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of letters combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document.
ISSN 0252-2055
[5 April 2018]
Contents
Page
I. Opening of the session (agenda item 1) ...... 6
II. Organization of work (agenda item 2) ...... 7
A. Attendance ...... 7
B. Election of officers (agenda item 11) ...... 8
C. Credentials of representatives (agenda item 3) ...... 9
D. Adoption of the agenda and organization of work ...... 9
1. Adoption of the agenda ...... 9
2. Organization of work ...... 10
E. High-level segment (agenda item 9) ...... 10
F. Work of the Committee of the Whole ...... 10
G. Report of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (agenda item 4) ...... 11 III. Matters requiring the special attention of the General Assembly or the Economic and Social Council ...... 12
IV. Adoption of the outcomes of the session (agenda item 10) ...... 14 V. Performance of the programme of work and budget, including implementation of the resolutions of the Environment Assembly (agenda item 5) ...... 16
VI. Administrative and budgetary issues (agenda item 6) ...... 17
VII. International environmental policy and governance issues (agenda item 7) ...... 18
VIII. Update on the sixth edition of the Global Environment Outlook report (agenda item 8) ...... 19 IX. Provisional agenda and date of the fourth session of the Environment Assembly (agenda item 12) ...... 20
X. Other matters (agenda item 13) ...... 21
XI. Adoption of the report (agenda item 14) ...... 22
XII. Closure of the session (agenda item 15) ...... 23 Annex
Outcomes adopted by the United Nations Environment Assembly at its third session ...... 24
18-04362 5/32
A/73/25
Chapter I Opening of the session (agenda item 1)
1. The third session of the United Nations Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme was held at the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme in Nairobi from 4 to 6 December 2017. 2. The session was opened at 10.25 a.m. on Monday, 4 December 2017, by Mr. Edgar Gutiérrez Espeleta, President of the Environment Assembly. At the President’s invitation, the Assembly observed a minute of silence to commemorate Mr. Buri Mohamed Hamza, Minister of State for Environment of Somalia, who had lost his life in a terrorist attack in Somalia, and the environmental rights defenders who had been victimized for their advocacy efforts in support of a pollution-free environment for their communities. 3. At the suggestion of the President, the Assembly welcomed the more than 2.3 million pledges signed by individuals across the world to take action to reduce pollution under the #BeatPollution campaign of the Environment Programme. The pledges were introduced and submitted by two young people. 4. Opening statements were delivered by Mr. Gutiérrez; Ms. Judi Wakhungu, Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Natural Resources of Kenya; Mr. Erik Solheim, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme; Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, President of the seventy-second session of the General Assembly of the United Nations; and Ms. Sahle-Work Zewde, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi, on behalf of Mr. António Guterres, Secretary- General of the United Nations.
6/32 18-04362
A/73/25
Chapter II Organization of work (agenda item 2)
A. Attendance
5. The following 157 member States were represented at the session: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe. 6. The following non-member States were represented: Holy See and State of Palestine. 7. The following United Nations bodies, secretariat units and convention secretariats were represented: Department for General Assembly and Conference Management, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Economic Commission for Africa, Economic Commission for Europe, Executive Office of the Secretary- General, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Presidency of the seventy-second session of the United Nations General Assembly, Presidency of the Economic and Social Council, secretariat of the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean, secretariats of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, secretariat of the Framework Convention on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians, secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa, secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the
18-04362 7/32
A/73/25
Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, United Nations Institute for Training and Research, United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction, United Nations Office at Geneva, United Nations Office at Nairobi, United Nations Office for Project Services, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, United Nations Population Fund, United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), World Food Programme. 8. The following United Nations specialized agencies and related organizations were represented: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Global Environment Facility, Green Climate Fund, International Atomic Energy Agency, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Civil Aviation Organization, International Fund for Agricultural Development, International Labour Organization, International Monetary Fund, International Telecommunication Union, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Universal Postal Union, World Bank Group, World Health Organization, World Meteorological Organization, World Trade Organization. 9. The following intergovernmental organizations were represented: African Union, Arab Organization for Agricultural Development, Association of Southeast Asian Nations Centre for Biodiversity, Climate and Clean Air Coalition, Commonwealth Secretariat, Economic Cooperation Organization, European Union, Global Green Growth Institute, International Committee of the Red Cross, International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, International Coral Reef Initiative, International Criminal Police Organization, International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Islamic Development Bank Group, League of Arab States, Mekong River Commission, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development, Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme. 10. In addition, a number of non-governmental and civil society organizations were represented as observers. A full list of participants in the third session of the Environment Assembly is available in document UNEP/EA.3/INF/17 and online from http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11822/22767.
B. Election of officers (agenda item 11)
11. At its 6th plenary meeting, on the afternoon of Wednesday, 6 December 2017, in accordance with rule 18 of its rules of procedure, the Environment Assembly elected by acclamation the following officers to serve at its fourth session: President: Mr. Siim Valmar Kiisler (Estonia)
Vice-Presidents: Mr. Molwyn Joseph (Antigua and Barbuda)
Mr. Fernando Estellita Lins de Salvo Coimbra (Brazil)
Mr. Vladislav Smrž (Czechia)
Mr. Kimmo Tiilikainen (Finland) Mr. Pacôme Moubelet-Boubeya (Gabon)
Mr. Kaveh Madani (Islamic Republic of Iran)
Ms. Edna Molewa (South Africa)
8/32 18-04362
A/73/25
Mr. Franz Xaver Perrez (Switzerland) Rapporteur: Mr. Raza Bashir Tarar (Pakistan)
C. Credentials of representatives (agenda item 3)
12. At the 6th plenary meeting of the Environment Assembly, the Rapporteur reported that the Bureau had received and examined the credentials of member States submitted in accordance with rules 16 and 17 of the rules of procedure of the Environment Assembly. As of 5 December 2017, 79 member States had submitted formal credentials issued by the Head of State or Government or Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Executive Director of the Environment Programme. Since then, formal credentials had been received from one further member State. Seventy-seven member States had communicated information on the appointment of their representative to the Environment Assembly by means of a cable or telefax from the Head of State or Government or the Minister of Foreign Affairs, a letter or note verbale from the mission concerned, or another form of communication. Thirty-seven member States had either not communicated any information regarding their representatives to the Executive Director or had indicated that they would not participate in the third session of the Environment Assembly. Since the Assembly had completed its work at its third session, five member States participating in the session that had submitted provisional credentials had submitted their originals. 13. The Environment Assembly took note of the report of the Bureau on credentials.
D. Adoption of the agenda and organization of work
1. Adoption of the agenda
14. The Environment Assembly adopted the following agenda for the session, on the basis of the provisional agenda (UNEP/EA.3/1): 1. Opening of the session. 2. Organization of work: (a) Adoption of the agenda; (b) Organization of work. 3. Credentials of representatives. 4. Report of the Committee of Permanent Representatives. 5. Performance of the programme of work and budget, including implementation of the resolutions of the Environment Assembly. 6. Administrative and budgetary issues. 7. International environmental policy and governance issues. 8. Update on the sixth edition of the Global Environment Outlook report. 9. High-level segment. 10. Adoption of the outcomes of the session. 11. Election of officers. 12. Provisional agenda and date of the fourth session of the Environment Assembly.
18-04362 9/32
A/73/25
13. Other matters. 14. Adoption of the report. 15. Closure of the session.
2. Organization of work
15. In accordance with rule 60 of its rules of procedure, the Environment Assembly agreed to establish a committee of the whole for the consideration of various items of its agenda. The Assembly also agreed, in accordance with the recommendations of the Bureau, that the Committee of the Whole would be chaired by Mr. John Matuszak (United States of America), that Mr. Travis Sinckler (Barbados) would serve as rapporteur and that it would consider items 4, 7 and 12. 16. The Assembly further agreed that four leadership dialogues would be held on 5 December 2017 on the themes of “Science, evidence and citizens’ awareness for change”, “Regulatory frameworks, institutions and the rule of law to address pollution”, “Practical solutions towards a pollution-free planet” and “Financing and innovation to combat pollution” and that a multi-stakeholder dialogue on the theme of “People and pollution” would also be held on 5 December 2017.
E. High-level segment (agenda item 9)
17. The 3rd to 5th plenary meetings, on the morning and afternoon of 5 December 2017 and the morning of 6 December 2017, took the form of a high-level segment under item 9 of the agenda. The high level segment consisted of a formal opening and ministerial plenary meetings featuring an interactive dialogue on the overarching theme of “Towards a pollution-free planet”, comprising an opening plenary with statements by key high-level speakers; national statements; leadership dialogues; a multi-stakeholder dialogue; a wrap-up plenary session; and a closing plenary session. Discussions were supported by the background report of the Executive Director on the theme of the third session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, “Towards a pollution-free planet” (UNEP/EA.3/25). 18. The high-level segment commenced at 10 a.m. on 5 December 2017 with a commemorative group photograph of participants in the hall. Following that event, opening statements were delivered by key high-level speakers. 19. The leadership dialogues on “Science, evidence and citizens’ awareness for change”, “Regulatory frameworks, institutions and the rule of law to address pollution”, “Practical solutions towards a pollution-free planet” and “Financing and innovation to combat pollution” were convened on 5 December 2017. 20. The multi-stakeholder dialogue on “People and pollution” was also convened on 5 December 2017. 21. Further details on the high-level segment are provided in section IX of the proceedings of the session (UNEP/EA.3/2).
F. Work of the Committee of the Whole
22. The Committee of the Whole held two meetings, on 4 December 2017, to consider the agenda items assigned to it, resuming the second meeting to conclude its work on the evening of 5 December 2017. At the 6th plenary meeting of the Environment Assembly, the Chair of the Committee reported on the outcome of the work of the Committee.
10/32 18-04362
A/73/25
23. The report on the work of the Committee is set out in annex III to the proceedings of the session (UNEP/EA.3/2).
G. Report of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (agenda item 4)
24. Mr. John Moreti, Chair of the Committee of Permanent Representatives and Permanent Representative of Botswana, presented the outcomes of the third meeting of the Open-ended Committee of Permanent Representatives, held from 29 November to 1 December 2017, noting that an advance version of the draft report had been posted on the portal of the Committee (UNEP/CPR/141/2). He reported that the main issues considered by the Committee had been the preparation of draft resolutions and decisions, as well as a ministerial declaration, for consideration by the Environment Assembly at its third session; administrative and budgetary matters; an update on the sixth edition of the Global Environment Outlook; and budget and programme performance, including the implementation of previous Environment Assembly resolutions. 25. With regard to draft resolutions and decisions, Mr. Moreti said that the Committee had succeeded in merging resolutions that dealt with similar issues and, out of the 19 resolutions and 4 draft decisions initially submitted to the Committee, it had agreed to transmit to the Assembly a total of 11 draft resolutions and 3 draft decisions. Out of those 11 draft resolutions and 3 draft decisions, the Committee had agreed to recommend to the Assembly the adoption of 6 draft resolutions and 2 draft decisions. 26. Similarly, the Committee had agreed to transmit to the Assembly, for its consideration and possible adoption, the draft ministerial declaration, on which consultations facilitated by the President of the Environment Assembly had been held during the third meeting of the Open-ended Committee.
18-04362 11/32
A/73/25
Chapter III Matters requiring the special attention of the General Assembly or the Economic and Social Council
27. With a view to supporting the implementation of the outcomes of the third session of the Environment Assembly in the context of global efforts towards achieving a pollution-free planet, as well as their contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Member States may wish to consider actions for the progressive integration of such outcomes into the implementation and review of, and follow-up on, the 2030 Agenda and relevant Sustainable Development Goals under the broader institutional framework of the United Nations system. 28. The preparations for sessions of the high-level political forum on sustainable development offer a unique opportunity and an institutional framework to ensure the integration of the reviews of and follow-up on the environmental dimension of sustainable development undertaken by the world’s ministers for the environment at sessions of the Environment Assembly. In its resolution 71/231 of 21 December 2016, the General Assembly addressed aspects of such integration by recognizing the commitment of the Environment Assembly to contributing to the effective implementation of the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda, in an integrated manner. The General Assembly also encouraged the President of the Environment Assembly to convey the main messages agreed upon by the Environment Assembly at its sessions during the high-level political forum. 29. Correspondingly, in its resolution 3/3 on contributions of the United Nations Environment Assembly to the high-level political forum on sustainable development, the Environment Assembly outlined the process for the provision of inputs to the forum, including the establishment of a standing agenda item with the aim of considering in its deliberations the Sustainable Development Goals under review at the annual meetings of the forum. 30. To fully utilize existing institutional links between the Environment Assembly and the high level political forum, Member States may wish: (a) To consider the ministerial declaration of the Environment Assembly at its third session (UNEP/EA.3/HLS.1), entitled “Towards a pollution-free planet”, in their deliberations on the ministerial declaration at the 2018 sessions of the high-level political forum and the Economic and Social Council; (b) To consider aspects of the various resolutions adopted by the Environment Assembly at its third session that are relevant to the regional preparatory processes for the provision of inputs in the submissions and policy recommendations to the high-level political forum, as well as for the preparation of the presentation of voluntary national reviews. 31. In addition, the existing reporting line to the General Assembly, through the Economic and Social Council, presents opportunities to further integrate the outcomes of the Environment Assembly into the work and deliberations of the two bodies. The General Assembly at its seventy-third session is expected to consider the report of the third session of the Environment Assembly. In that context, Member States may wish: (a) To take note of the report on and resolutions of the third session of the Environment Assembly, including its ministerial declaration; (b) To recognize that addressing pollution is a crucial element for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, as indicated in the ministerial declaration of the
12/32 18-04362
A/73/25
Environment Assembly at its third session; and to encourage further efforts towards achieving a pollution-free planet in support of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda; (c) To welcome United Nations system-wide representation at sessions of the Environment Assembly, and encourage United Nations system-wide action to address pollution in the context of support to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, in an integrated manner, and taking into consideration the resolutions and the ministerial declaration of the Environment Assembly at its third session; (d) To consider measures to encourage pollution-free practices at United Nations premises, conferences and meetings, and in United Nations operations, including the reduction of the use of single-use plastics; (e) To commend the participation of the presidents of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council in the third session of the Environment Assembly, in the light of the spirit of integration and universality of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
18-04362 13/32
A/73/25
Chapter IV Adoption of the outcomes of the session (agenda item 10)
32. At its 5th plenary meeting, the Assembly adopted the ministerial declaration entitled “Towards a pollution-free planet” (UNEP/EA.3/HLS.1). 33. At its 6th plenary meeting, the Environment Assembly adopted by consensus the following resolutions and decisions. The individual resolutions are available in documents UNEP/EA.3/Res.1–UNEP/EA.3/Res.11 on the Assembly’s website (unep.org/environmentassembly).
Resolution Title
3/1 Pollu tion mitigation and control in areas affected by armed conflict or terrorism
3/2 Pollution mitigation by mainstreaming biodiversity into key sectors
3/3 Contributions of the United Nations Environment Assembly to the high- level political forum on sustainable development
3/4 Environment and health 3/5 Investing in innovative environmental solutions for accelerating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals
3/6 Managing soil pollution to achieve sustainable development
3/7 Marine litter and microplastics 3/8 Preventing and reducing air pollution to improve air quality globally
3/9 Eliminating exposure to lead paint and promoting environmentally sound management of waste lead-acid batteries
3/10 Addressing water pollution to protect and restore water-related ecosystems 3/11 Implementation of paragraph 88 (a)–(h) of the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), entitled “The future we want”
Decision Title
3/1 Extension of the delivery date for the sixth Global Environment Outlook report
3/2 Provisional agenda, date and venue of the fourth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly
3/3 Management of trust funds and earmarked contributions
34. Following the adoption of the above resolutions and decisions, the representative of the United States asked that the following statement be reflected in the report: 35. “Consistent with long-standing policy, the United States does not support references to the transfer of technology to the extent that such language could promote technology transfer that is not both on mutually agreed terms and voluntary. For the
14/32 18-04362
A/73/25
United States, any interpretation to that effect will have no standing in future negotiations. We will continue to oppose language that we believe undermines intellectual property rights.” 36. Two other representatives also spoke, one welcoming the inclusion of a resolution addressing biodiversity, in support of the Cancun Declaration on mainstreaming the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity for well-being, and the other outlining the measures being taken by his country to improve air quality.
18-04362 15/32
A/73/25
Chapter V Performance of the programme of work and budget, including implementation of the resolutions of the Environment Assembly (agenda item 5)
37. At its 1st plenary meeting, the Assembly took note of the report of the Chair of the Open-ended Committee of Permanent Representatives on the performance of the programme of work and budget, including implementation of the resolutions of the Environment Assembly.
16/32 18-04362
A/73/25
Chapter VI Administrative and budgetary issues (agenda item 6)
38. Following the recommendation by the Committee of Permanent Representatives set out in the report of the Chair of the Open-ended Committee of Permanent Representatives, the Assembly adopted decision 3/3 on the management of trust funds and earmarked contributions and concluded consideration of the agenda item at its 6th plenary meeting.
18-04362 17/32
A/73/25
Chapter VII International environmental policy and governance issues (agenda item 7)
39. Agenda item 7, and the draft resolutions related to it, were considered by the Committee of the Whole. At the 6th plenary meeting of the Environment Assembly, the Chair of the Committee reported on the outcome of the work of the Committee. The report on the work of the Committee is set out in annex III to the proceedings (UNEP/EA.3/2).
18/32 18-04362
A/73/25
Chapter VIII Update on the sixth edition of the Global Environment Outlook report (agenda item 8)
40. At its 6th plenary meeting, the Assembly adopted, upon the recommendation of the Open-ended Committee of Permanent Representatives, decision 3/1 on the extension of the delivery date for the sixth edition of the Global Environment Outlook report. In the decision, the Environment Assembly requested the Executive Director to issue the sixth edition of the Global Environment Outlook report three months before the fourth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly and to present the report and its accompanying summary for policymakers for consideration and possible endorsement by the Environment Assembly at its fourth session.
18-04362 19/32
A/73/25
Chapter IX Provisional agenda and date of the fourth session of the Environment Assembly (agenda item 12)
41. Agenda item 12 and the draft decision related to it were considered by the Committee of the Whole. The report on the work of the Committee of the Whole is set out in annex III to the proceedings (UNEP/EA.3/2). 42. At its 6th plenary meeting, the Environment Assembly adopted decision 3/2 on the provisional agenda, date and venue of the fourth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly. At the time of the adoption of decision 3/2, the Assembly acknowledged the support provided by the Government of Kenya for the third session of the Assembly.
20/32 18-04362
A/73/25
Chapter X Other matters (agenda item 13)
43. No other matters were discussed.
18-04362 21/32
A/73/25
Chapter XI Adoption of the report (agenda item 14)
44. At its 6th plenary meeting, the Environment Assembly adopted the proceedings on the basis of the draft proceedings (UNEP/EA.3/L.1), on the understanding that they would be completed and finalized by the Rapporteur, working in conjunction with the secretariat.
22/32 18-04362
A/73/25
Chapter XII Closure of the session (agenda item 15)
45. The third session of the United Nations Environment Assembly of the Environment Programme was declared closed at 5.40 p.m. on Wednesday, 6 December 2017.
18-04362 23/32
A/73/25
Annex
Outcomes adopted by the United Nations Environment Assembly at its third session1
Resolutions Title
3/1 Pollution mitigation and control in areas affected by armed conflict or terrorism (UNEP/EA.3/Res.1)
3/2 Pollution mitigation by mainstreaming biodiversity into key sectors (UNEP/EA.3/Res.2)
3/3 Contributions of the United Nations Environment Assembly to the high- level political forum on sustainable development (UNEP/EA.3/Res.3)
3/4 Environment and health (UNEP/EA.3/Res.4) 3/5 Investing in innovative environmental solutions for accelerating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (UNEP/EA.3/Res.5)
3/6 Managing soil pollution to achieve sustainable development (UNEP/EA.3/Res.6)
3/7 Marine litter and microplastics (UNEP/EA.3/Res.7) 3/8 Preventing and reducing air pollution to improve air quality globally (UNEP/EA.3/Res.8)
3/9 Eliminating exposure to lead paint and promoting environmentally sound management of waste lead-acid batteries (UNEP/EA.3/Res.9)
3/10 Addressing water pollution to protect and restore water-related ecosystems (UNEP/EA.3/Res.10)
3/11 Implementation of paragraph 88 (a)–(h) of the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development “The future we want” (UNEP/EA.3/Res.11)
Decisions
3/1 Extension of the delivery date for the sixth Global Environment Outlook report
3/2 Provisional agenda, date and venue of the fourth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly
3/3 Management of trust funds and earmarked contributions
Declaration
Ministerial declaration of the United Nations Environment Assembly at its third session: “Towards a pollution free planet” (UNEP/EA.3/HLS.1)
______1 The resolutions and ministerial declaration adopted by the Environment Assembly at its third session are issued as stand-alone documents under the respective symbols specified in the table. The decisions are set out in the present annex.
24/32 18-04362
A/73/25
Decisions
3/1. Extension of the delivery date for the sixth Global Environment Outlook report
The United Nations Environment Assembly, Recalling its resolution 1/4 of 27 June 2014, Bearing in mind that the Global Environment Outlook is the flagship recurrent environmental assessment report of the United Nations Environment Programme, Recognizing the importance of delivering a high-quality sixth Global Environment Outlook report and its accompanying summary for policymakers as a key tool for strengthening the science-policy interface and assisting member States in the implementation of the environmental dimension of the Sustainable Development Goals and other internationally agreed environmental goals, and informing decision- making, Welcoming the analysis and recommendations provided by the high-level intergovernmental and stakeholder advisory group to the United Nations Environment Programme regarding the extension of the timeline for delivery of the sixth Global Environment Outlook report and its accompanying summary for policymakers, Emphasizing the importance of the quality of the sixth Global Environment Outlook report, 1. Requests the Executive Director to issue the sixth Global Environment Outlook report at least three months before the fourth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly; 2. Also requests the Executive Director to schedule the negotiations on the summary for policymakers at least six weeks in advance of the fourth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly and to present the sixth Global Environment Outlook report and its accompanying summary for policymakers for consideration and possible endorsement by the Environment Assembly at its fourth session.
3/2. Provisional agenda, date and venue of the fourth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly
The United Nations Environment Assembly, Recalling General Assembly resolutions 2997 (XXVII) of 15 December 1972; 66/288 of 27 July 2012; 67/213 of 21 December 2012; 67/251 of 13 March 2013; 68/215 of 20 December 2013; 69/223 of 19 December 2014; and 71/231 of 21 December 2016, Recalling also General Assembly resolutions 47/202 A (paragraph 17) of 22 December 1992; 54/248 of 23 December 1999; 56/242 of 24 December 2001; 57/283 B (paragraphs 9–11 of section II) of 15 April 2003; 61/236 (paragraph 9 of section II A) of 22 December 2006; 62/225 (paragraph 9 of section II A) of 22 December 2007; 63/248 (paragraph 9 of section II A) of 24 December 2008; 64/230 (paragraph 9 of section II A) of 22 December 2009; 65/245 (paragraph 10 of section II A) of 24 December 2010; 67/237 (paragraph 13 of section II A) of 28 January 2013; and 71/262 (paragraph 27 of section II and paragraph 102 of section V) of 23 December 2016,
18-04362 25/32
A/73/25
Taking into account Governing Council decisions 27/1 and 27/2 of 22 February 2013, as well as United Nations Environment Assembly resolutions 1/2 of 27 June 2014 and 2/22 of 27 May 2016, Recognizing the commendable efforts of the bureaux of the United Nations Environment Assembly and the Committee of Permanent Representatives in preparing for Environment Assembly sessions through regular meetings under a model of joint cooperation, Noting with appreciation the contributions made by the Committee of Permanent Representatives and by the bureau of the United Nations Environment Assembly, including at the third meeting of the open ended Committee of Permanent Representatives, to the provisional agenda for the fourth session of the Environment Assembly, 1. Decides to hold the fourth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly at its headquarters in Nairobi from 11 to 15 March 2019; 2. Requests the Committee of Permanent Representatives to deliberate, in consultation with the bureau of the United Nations Environment Assembly, and decide, by no later than at its 142nd meeting, on the format and date of the next meeting of the open-ended Committee of Permanent Representatives; 3. Decides to hold the sessions of the United Nations Environment Assembly, following the fourth session of the Environment Assembly, during the last week of February, unless otherwise decided by the Environment Assembly, at its headquarters in Nairobi, consistent with rule 4 of the rules of procedure; 4. Approves the provisional agenda for the fourth session as follows: 1. Opening of the session. 2. Adoption of the agenda and organization of work. 3. Credentials of representatives. 4. Report of the Committee of Permanent Representatives. 5. International environmental policy and governance issues. 6. Programme of work and budget, and other administrative and budgetary issues. 7. Stakeholder engagement. 8. High-level segment. 9. Provisional agenda, date and venue of the fifth session of the Environment Assembly. 10. Adoption of resolutions, decisions and outcome document of the session. 11. Election of officers. 12. Other matters. 13. Adoption of the report. 14. Closure of the session. 5. Requests the Committee of Permanent Representatives, in consultation with the Bureau of the United Nations Environment Assembly, to contribute to the preparation of elaborated elements of the provisional agenda set out in paragraph 4 above;
26/32 18-04362
A/73/25
6. Requests the Bureau of the United Nations Environment Assembly, in consultation with the Committee of Permanent Representatives, to define a theme for the Environment Assembly no later than 31 March 2018; 7. Encourages member States to submit to the Committee of Permanent Representatives draft proposals for consideration by the United Nations Environment Assembly preferably five weeks in advance of the fourth meeting of the open-ended Committee of Permanent Representatives, without prejudice to the rules of procedure, in particular rule 44.
3/3. Management of trust funds and earmarked contributions
The United Nations Environment Assembly, Having considered the report of the Executive Director on the management of trust funds and earmarked contributions, 2 Recalling the requests made to the Executive Director in Governing Council decision 27/14 and United Nations Environment Assembly resolution 2/23 to prepare a report highlighting the challenges of managing multiple trust funds and to propose steps which could be taken to reduce the administrative burden of maintaining those trust funds, Noting the need to accelerate the closure of inactive trust funds in order to use the outstanding balances in support of the unanimously agreed programme of work and as a first step in the implementation of paragraph 2 of United Nations Environment Assembly resolution 2/23, 1. Notes that, in line with the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, agreements for which the United Nations Environment Programme carries out the functions of the secretariat must be based on the principle of cost recovery when it comes to administrative costs;
I Trust funds in support of the programme of work of the United Nations Environment Programme
2. Notes and approves the establishment of the following trust funds in accordance with Governing Council decision 19/25 of 7 February 1997: (a) GCF — General Trust Fund to Support the Activities of the Green Climate Fund Operating under the Accreditation Master Agreement; (b) GCL — General Trust Fund to Support the Activities of the Green Climate Fund operating under the Framework Readiness and Preparatory Support Grant Agreement; 3. Approves the extension of the following trust funds subject to the Executive Director’s receiving requests to do so from the appropriate authorities: (a) ECL — Technical Cooperation Trust Fund financed by the European Commission to support cooperation between the European Commission and the United Nations Environment Programme on Strengthening International Environmental Governance under a 2011 Strategic Cooperation Agreement and the 2014 Programme Cooperation Agreement with an expiry date of 31 December 2021;
______2 UNEP/EA.3/INF/8.
18-04362 27/32
A/73/25
(b) ESS — Technical Cooperation Trust Fund for the Implementation by the United Nations Environment Programme of Ecosystem-based Adaptation, which is extended up to and including 31 December 2020 (financed by the Government of Germany and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations); 4. Requests the Executive Director, in consultation with the relevant parties and/or donors, as appropriate and in accordance with the terms of the respective agreement/fund, to decide on reassigning the balances in inactive trust funds when the activities for which they have been established have ended, with a view to supporting the implementation of appropriate subprogrammes of the agreed programme of work before the end of 2019; 5. Notes and approves, if necessary, the shortest possible no-cost technical extension of the relevant trust funds and their closure, subject to the co mpletion of their activities and clearance of all financial implications and obligations: (a) AHL — Technical Cooperation Trust Fund to Assist the Implementation of Agenda 21 in Europe and to Strengthen the Pan-European Environmental Cooperation (financed by the Government of the Netherlands); (b) BKL — General Trust Fund for the Clean-up of Environmental Hotspots following the Kosovo Conflicts and Preparation of Guidelines on Assessment and Remedial Measures for Post conflict Environmental Damages; (c) BLL — General Trust Fund in Support of the UNEP/Habitat Balkans Task Force on Environment and Human Settlements; (d) DUL — General Trust Fund to Support the Activities of the Dams and Development Unit to Coordinate Follow-up to the World Commission on Dams; (e) EML — Technical Cooperation Trust Fund for Activities in Developing Countries on Environmental Awareness and Machinery (financed by the Government of Germany); (f) POL — General Trust Fund in Support of the Preparation and Negotiation of an Internationally Legally Binding Instrument for International Action on Persistent Organic Pollutants, and Related Information Exchange and technical assistance activities; (g) PPL — General Trust Fund in Support of the Preparation and Negotiation of an International Legally Binding Instrument for the Application of the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals in International Trade;
II Trust funds in support of regional seas programmes, conventions, protocols and special funds
6. Notes and approves the establishment of the following trust funds since the second session of the United Nations Environment Assembly:
A. Trust funds to be administered by the secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury
(a) MCC — General Trust Fund of the Minamata Convention on Mercury with an expiry date of 31 December 2035;
28/32 18-04362
A/73/25
(b) MCV — Special Trust Fund of the Minamata Convention on Mercury to enable support for capacity-building and technical assistance activities of the secretariat in accordance with Article 14 with an expiry date of 31 December 2035; (c) MCP — Specific International Programme Trust Fund of the Minamata Convention on Mercury to enable support for capacity-building and technical assistance activities in accordance with Article 13 with an expiry date of 31 December 2028; 7. Approves the extension of the following trust funds, upon receiving a request to do so from the appropriate authorities:
B. Trust funds administered by the secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
(a) MSL — Trust Fund for the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, which is extended up to and including 31 December 2020; (b) MVL — General Trust Fund for Voluntary Contributions in Support of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, which is extended up to and including 31 December 2020; (c) BAL — General Trust Fund for the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas, which is extended up to and including 31 December 2020; (d) QVL — General Trust Fund in respect of the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas, which is extended up to and including 31 December 2020; (e) BTL — General Trust Fund for the Conservation of Populations of European Bats, which is extended up to and including 31 December 2018; (f) QFL — General Trust Fund in respect of the Agreement on the Conservation of Populations of European Bats, which is extended up to and including 31 December 2018;
C. Trust fund administered by the secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
BZL — General Trust Fund for Voluntary Contributions to Facilitate the Participation of Parties in the Process of the Convention on Biological Diversity, which is extended up to and including 31 December 2021;
D. Trust funds administered by the Coordinating Unit for the Mediterranean Action Plan3
(a) CAL — Support of the Mediterranean Action Plan (financed by the Government of Greece), which is extended up to and including 31 December 2019; (b) MEL — Trust Fund for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution, which is extended up to and including 31 December 2019;
______3 The extension is subject to the final approval by the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean at their twentieth ordinary meeting, held in Tirana from 17 to 20 December 2017.
18-04362 29/32
A/73/25
(c) QML — Support of the Mediterranean Action Plan, which is extended up to and including 31 December 2019;
E. Trust fund administered by the secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
QTL — Support of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which is extended up to and including 31 December 2019;
F. Trust funds administered by the Ozone Secretariat
(a) MPL — Trust Fund for the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, which is extended up to and including 31 December 2025; (b) QOL — Support of the Activities of the Ozone Secretariat, which is extended up to and including 31 December 2025; (c) SOL — General Trust Fund for Financing Activities on Research and Systematic Observation for the Vienna Convention, which is extended up to and including 31 December 2026; (d) VCL — Trust Fund for the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, which is extended up to and including 31 December 2025;
G. Trust funds administered by the secretariat of the East Asian Seas Action Plan4
(a) ESL — Regional Trust Fund for the Implementation of the Action Plan for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment and Coastal Areas of East Asian Seas, which is extended up to and including 31 December 2018; (b) QEL — Support of the Eastern Asian Seas Action Plan, which is extended up to and including 31 December 2018;
H. Trust funds administered by the secretariat of the Convention for Cooperation in the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Atlantic Coast of the West, Central and Southern Africa Region
QAC — Support of the Convention for Cooperation in the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Atlantic Coast of the West, Central and Southern Africa Region, which is extended up to and including 31 December 2019;
______4 The extension is subject to the final approval by the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean at their twentieth ordinary meeting, held in Tirana from 17 to 20 December 2017.
30/32 18-04362
A/73/25
I. Trust funds administered by the secretariat of the Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Eastern African Region
(a) EAL — Regional Seas Trust Fund for the Eastern African Region, which is extended up to and including 31 December 2018; (b) QAW — Support of the Action Plan for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Eastern African Region, which is extended up to and including 31 December 2018;
J. Trust funds administered by the secretariat of the Caribbean Environment Programme and the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region and its Protocols
QCL — Support of the Cartagena Convention Action Plan for the Caribbean Environment Programme, which is extended up to and including 31 December 2019;
K. Trust funds administered by the Regional Coordinating Unit for the Action Plan for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Northwest Pacific Region
QNL — Support of the Northwest Pacific Action Plan, which is extended up to and including 31 December 2019; 8. Notes and approves the change of name and extension of the following trust funds:
L. Trust funds administered by the secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
9. As requested by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity at its 13th meeting: (a) BEL — General Trust Fund for Additional Voluntary Contributions in Support of Approved Activities under the Convention on Biological Diversity, which is extended up to and including 31 December 2021, and henceforth named General Trust Fund for Additional Voluntary Contributions in Support of Approved Activities under the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Protocols; (b) VBL — General Trust Fund for Voluntary Contributions to Facilitate the Participation of Indigenous and Local Communities in the Work of the Convention on Biological Diversity, which is extended up to and including 31 December 2021 and henceforth named General Trust Fund for Voluntary Contributions to Facilitate the Participation of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in the Work of the Convention of Biological Diversity; 10. Notes and approves the merger of the following trust funds into the BEL Trust Fund and their extension, as requested by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity at its thirteenth meeting: (a) BHL — Special Voluntary Trust Fund for Additional Voluntary Contributions in Support of Approved Activities of the Biosafety Protocol, which is extended up to and including 31 December 2021;
18-04362 31/32
A/73/25
(b) BXL — Special Voluntary Trust Fund for Additional Voluntary Contributions in Support of Approved Activities, which is extended up to and including 31 December 2021;
M. Reassignment of Trust Funds of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions
11. Requests the Executive Director in consultation with the heads of the secretariats of the multilateral environmental agreements administered by the United Nations Environment Programme to consult with parties and donors in accordance with the terms of the respective agreement or fund to decide on reassigning the balances in the trust funds, referred to in paragraph 12 (a) and (b) below that are no longer required for the initial purpose for which they were established in order to support the appropriate activities of the programmes of work approved by the respective governing bodies: (a) QRL — Support of the Basel Convention; (b) RSL — Technical Cooperation Trust Fund to Support Implementation of the Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions in Developing Countries; 12. Notes and approves, if necessary, the shortest possible no-cost technical extension of those two trust funds and their closure, subject to the completion of their activities and clearance of all financial implications and obligations.
18-04362 (E) 060418 *1804362*
32/32 18-04362